Chap TTT ] GHEIAS-U-DIN BULBUN. 67
were many tributary Indian princes. There were present, also, no fewer than ad. )2<>t) twenty-five princes of Irak-Ajemi, Khorasan, and Transoxiana, who had sought ])rotection at Delhi from the devastating hordes of Ghenghis Khan.
Nasir-u-din died of a lingering disease in 1266, after a reign of twenty years, "abitaof
Naair u-(Jiii.
He makes little figure on the page of history; and was, both by nature and habit, far better adapted for a private than for a public station. Though of royal ])arentage, he had acquired parsimonious habits, and lived in the utmost sim- plicity. When imprisoned in early life, he maintained himself by the labours of his pen; and, when seated on the throne, he made it his daily practice to wi'ite as much as would suffice to purchase his food. Ferishta's account of his domestic an-angements is curious: — "Contrary to the custom of other princes, he kept no concubines He had but one wife, whom he obliged to do every homely part [ of housewifery. When she complained one day, that she had burned her fingers in baking his bread, and desired he would allow a maid to assist her, he rejected her request, saying that he was only a trustee for the state, and was determined not to burden it with needless expenses. He therefore exhorted her to persevere m her duty with patience, and God would reward her on the day of judgment."
Gheias-u-din Bulbun, usually called by European writers Balin, had long iJuiimn been virtual, and on his master's death, became actual sovereign. He was the son of a powerfid Turki chief, but, when a youth, had been carried off" by the Moguls and sold to a merchant, who took him to Bagdad. Here he was bought by an inhabitant of Bussorah, who, on learning that he belonged to the same tribe as Altamsh, toolc him to Delhi, when that monarch paid for him so liberally that his previous master returned with an independent fortune.
His first emplo}Tnent wjis as falconer, because he was ])articularly skilful in iiiseaiiy the art of hawking; but, by the influence of a brother, whom he found living in high favom' at court, he obtained a higher position and became a noble. In the reign of Rukn-u-diu, he commanded in the Punjab. On receiving an order to return, he refused to place himself in the power of that worthless t_yTant, who, he learned, had a design upon his life. He therefore took the only alternative that remained, and declared himself independent. Wlien the Sultana Rezia mounted the throne, he joined the confederacy which marched to Delhi to depose her, and was taken prisoner. After a time he effected his escape, and became a leading supporter of Behram, during whose reign he held the government of Hansi and Rewaree, and distinguished himself in suppressing the insun-ections in Meerut. In the reign of Ala-u-din Musaood, he held the office of Ameer Hajib; and at last, as has been seen, exercised all the powei-s of sovereign, though nominally only the zier of Nasir-u-din.
Bulbun began his reign with some acts of what he deemed necessary severity; "'" i>at""n- and having thus made his position secm'e, acquired a high reputation for justice literature
Bidom. He was a liberal rewarder of merit, and a rigid coirector of crime; seems to have attached more imiiortance to birth than mii^ht have been
